Hello! I'm not sure how to start this. Um, so I'm trying to change my life because I feel my social anxiety and ADD is ruining my life. It wasn't always like this, but lately I see it's hurting me a lot, especially at work. A little bit about myself, I'm 26 years old, and I'm a CMA (Certified Medical Assistant). I graduated 2 years ago and since then been trying to find a place where I can belong with my certification. At first I worked at Cardiology office, but the co-workers there bullied me and it just got to the point where I had enough and quit/fired. I tried another clinic, but then I got fired after a week there because I guess because I wasn't mentally ready to go back to work. So I took a few months off (I live with my parents) and I went again to find a job. I finally found my dream job, basically a medical aide at a public charter school. I work by myself, no one bothers me except the kids and I'm alone. I really like this job, but my communication with the parents and co-workers is ****. My anxiety makes it hard to talk on the phone and I try as much as I can, but as well my ADD hurts my concentration. The people here are nice, but I would like to be friends and actually do my best I can, but I feel with my disorders, it makes it worse.

So then comes to the present day, since I'm a medical aide, I don't get paid during the summer (this year, next year they are). So I then talked to some friends on a nursing forum and they told me to try working at summer camps. I applied to some, I used my co-workers and friends as references, and BOOM, I got a job. Problem... it's ALL the way to New york. I live in Texas... and with this problem, I'm worried. I'm worried about homesickness, and making friends. I'm staying for 2 months, in a dorm like house. I'm scared. But... I want to do this. I feel like this can maybe help me a bit with my anxiety.

Basically the reason I'm typing this is because I need advice to overcome this fear and actually try to help myself. I am on medication for ADD, but I stopped taking Adderall because it made me feel really sluggish and I'm planning to see my psychiatrist before my trip so I can get my medication that I need.

The simplest solution is to go to a doctor and get a prescription for an anti-anxiety medication.

You don't have time for therapy, which taker longer than a few weeks.

Also order books online or keep googling anxiety and cognitive therapy ... there are some good techniques out there for calming yourself down ...

I would seriously consider a medication ... because you take the pressure off of yourself ... you don't have to be superman this summer ... and you don't leave yourself abandoned to simply endure painful disconnection from others.

Be really blunt with a clinic or primary care provider. Tell about the job and the timeline and previous job history and so on. They'll need to know all of that to give you a prescription ... and note: you might not need anything heavy-duty ... or high dose ...

I would also suggest that you ask your doctor for a prescription of a SSRI antidepressant like Prozac or Zoloft or Paxil. It takes about 3-5 weeks for antidepressants to kick-in but when they do they're a miracle drug for treating anxiety. As Tone mentioned, I would also get an anti-anxiety medication like Xanax or Klonopin to help out at times when you are really hit with anxiety. I take 60mg of Paxil and 0.5mg of Klonopin when I need it. It helps a lot. The antidepressants give me a lot of self confidence that I needed. Good luck.

By the way, never let anyone bully you. I'm sure you are a great person and you deserve better than that.

__________________Traveler5

I don't pay attention during conversations. Not even when I talk to myself.

I been seeing a therapist since September lately, but she says most of my issues are underlined because of my low self esteem, so she believes I don't need anxiety medication but try to give myself confidence.

Hello! I'm not sure how to start this. Um, so I'm trying to change my life because I feel my social anxiety and ADD is ruining my life. It wasn't always like this, but lately I see it's hurting me a lot, especially at work. A little bit about myself, I'm 26 years old, and I'm a CMA (Certified Medical Assistant). I graduated 2 years ago and since then been trying to find a place where I can belong with my certification. At first I worked at Cardiology office, but the co-workers there bullied me and it just got to the point where I had enough and quit/fired. I tried another clinic, but then I got fired after a week there because I guess because I wasn't mentally ready to go back to work. So I took a few months off (I live with my parents) and I went again to find a job. I finally found my dream job, basically a medical aide at a public charter school. I work by myself, no one bothers me except the kids and I'm alone. I really like this job, but my communication with the parents and co-workers is ****. My anxiety makes it hard to talk on the phone and I try as much as I can, but as well my ADD hurts my concentration. The people here are nice, but I would like to be friends and actually do my best I can, but I feel with my disorders, it makes it worse.

So then comes to the present day, since I'm a medical aide, I don't get paid during the summer (this year, next year they are). So I then talked to some friends on a nursing forum and they told me to try working at summer camps. I applied to some, I used my co-workers and friends as references, and BOOM, I got a job. Problem... it's ALL the way to New york. I live in Texas... and with this problem, I'm worried. I'm worried about homesickness, and making friends. I'm staying for 2 months, in a dorm like house. I'm scared. But... I want to do this. I feel like this can maybe help me a bit with my anxiety.

Basically the reason I'm typing this is because I need advice to overcome this fear and actually try to help myself. I am on medication for ADD, but I stopped taking Adderall because it made me feel really sluggish and I'm planning to see my psychiatrist before my trip so I can get my medication that I need.